Ischemic heart disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA and private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for these records, and a medical examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any lumbar spine disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's coronary disability, also claimed as ischemic heart disease, is a presumptive disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for coronary artery disease, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. However, the heart disability other than coronary artery disease and prostate disability are not connected to service or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's STRs do not show any signs of a prostate condition, but he reported symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to September 30, 2015 and from that date forward was denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder (hypertensive heart disease) and arteriosclerotic heart disease were also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer as a result of herbicide exposure while stationed at the Ubon RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right upper extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the left lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence of record is against finding that the Veteran has had neuropathy of the right lower extremity at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a low back disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that a bilateral eye disability began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that Crohn’s Disease began during active service, or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Entitlement to service connection for a stroke is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for hypertension is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a heart disability with a heart attack is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's lower back disability is service connected, but has remanded for further development regarding his heart disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, heart disability and diabetes mellitus was received on July 11, 2008. The effective date of the award of SMC for loss of use of a creative organ is set at July 11, 2008.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, muscle weakness, memory loss, and hair loss due to presumed exposure to environmental toxins during the Gulf War. The Veteran's current diagnoses of coronary artery disease, muscle weakness, memory impairment, and hair thinning were found to be related to his service-connected major depressive disorder.,The Board also denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome due to presumed exposure to environmental toxins during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. However, the Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions or any in-service event, injury, or illness. The claim for heart disorder was not addressed as it did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities, and is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation between August 9, 2007 and October 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence being submitted, but did not specify a decision on the merits of these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and heart condition, finding that there is no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board also found that exposure to toxic chemicals during service did not cause or contribute to the development of either condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, and coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's unit had two detachments in Vietnam, one of which was at Nha Trang. Additional development is needed to verify if the Veteran served there during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's initial rating for coronary artery disease was increased from 10% to 60% effective January 25, 2019. Prior to this date, the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, type II, myelodysplastic syndrome, and abdominal aortic aneurism have been granted. Claims for colon cancer, chronic renal disease, polycystic kidney disease (claimed as kidney failure), cerebrovascular accident (claimed as stroke), COPD, atrial fibrillation, and emphysema are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and colon cancer as due to exposure to herbicide agents. The agency of original jurisdiction is instructed to request further information from the Joint Services Records Research Center regarding the Veteran's reported TDY service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD and concluded that he does not have any diagnosed mental health condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran currently has ischemic heart disease and needs a medical examination to determine this.